I don't think our zoo gets enough credit. My views may have changed now that I have a toddler. After recently visiting a big city zoo, I have come to really appreciate the benefit of our cozier zoo! Getting from animal to animal isn't a huge hike and the animals are fairly close, easier for toddlers to find and take in! They also have a beautiful family playground space for kids, toddler playground included. I wish the playground was completely covered, but some shade is better than none with Tucsons heat. We have an annual pass, great deal and makes us feel much less pressure to rush around to see everything at every visit. If we only make it to the elephants and giraffe, no big deal, we will come back. Right now we love the giraffes and they have a new baby, make sure to visit soon! read more

What to say about this zoo. I grew up around two of the best zoos in the country: The San Diego Zoo and Riverbanks Zoo. So, this zoo leaves me a little nonplussed. First, it's generally quite crowded on weekends. And when I say crowded I mean large family groups who have little regard for personal space or visitor rules. On my last visit I was nearly knocked down multiple times by groups of children who appeared to have little to no supervision. Visitors often hog exhibits trying to take selfies or sitting children on rails to get photos with animals. And let's not get into kids and adults banging on glass exhibits trying to get the attention of the animals. Staff is nonexistent to prevent this it seems. Beyond that the place just feels rundown and a bit dreary. Exhibit glass is often so dirty you can't see through. Exhibits are sort of drab and small. Water is often very unclean and full of debris and even trash. There is one food option which is very expensive and the dining area unkempt. You'd think they would have some options to buy water or cold treats considering our weather but I've never seen any open on my visits. It's nice to have a zoo in town but it just seems this could be so much better. Your kids will probably love it but if you're used to world class zoos it will be a bit depressing. read more

Reid Park Zoo - Otters - Zoos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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This review is specifically for the Sean Kenney's Nature Pop! LEGO exhibit at the Zoo (January 30 through May 12,2026.) I am not into zoos typically and prefer to look for animals in their natural habitats in my free time. However, I was interested in this exhibit and got a free pass for the zoo especially in order to see it. I didn't read about the art in this exhibit much before going and assumed it was just straightforward animals made from legos but it exceeded my expectations both in the meanings of some of the pieces and with their constructions, colors etc. The pieces are spreads throughout the zoo and there are 40 of them. I highly recommend reading the signs for each LEGO art piece if you go. I also recomend looking at each piece from various directions. I hope to see additional exhibits like this in the future after this one leaves. read more

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The highlight of today's visit were the 2 new otters. I spent a LOT of time soaking in their cuteness today. The animals were pretty active today, including the tortoises. There were only a couple of main animals MIA (the brown bear and Bella the leopard), the rest of the animal crew was in good spirits today. I love how well cared for the animals are here and the Zoo staff are super friendly during the Zookeeper chats too. In addition to this wonderful animal exhibit, I got my favorite pretzel, Ben's Soft Pretzels. The way they make the pretzels is unfortunately hit or miss (which is disappointing) but hopefully they'll work on the quality control/prep. Overall I love making the long trip to the zoo each time. read more

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Reid Park Zoo is an awesome spot, especially for the price. At only $12 for adults, it is easily one of the best value zoos I have been to. They have a great variety of animals too. You can see elephants, otters, African painted dogs, an Indian bear, rhino, giraffes, lions, a sloth, and a lot more. It is not a massive zoo, but it still feels like there is plenty to see. The whole zoo is about a mile and a half to walk, which makes it perfect for a few hours without feeling exhausting. It is a great way to spend around three hours if you are visiting Tucson. If you live in Tucson, the $90 yearly membership is absolutely worth it. You could easily come here every weekend, treat it like a walking spot, and get your steps in while enjoying the animals. Overall, great experience, great value, and definitely worth checking out. read more

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Came for the Yelp elite event Wine Gone Wild. It was great!! Found a new wine I really liked so I bought the whole bottle! Haha. People were all very friendly & accommodating! Also got to see the Lego exhibit with it. Very cool! I hope to come back during the day sometime to see more animals! read more

Reid Park Zoo - Flamingos - Zoos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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My daughter and I spent four hours today (Tuesday 3-24-26) in the zoo with her two boys, 8 and 10. They had a blast. The zoo is small but the paths are well-designed. Mature trees provide for shade for most of it. We arrived at 9:40am but were delayed at first because the cash computers went down and the employees had to do everything manually. We were advised to purchase our tickets online to expedite the line. We did by ordering via the cellphone . Admission is very affordable: $8.50 for kids 2-12, $12 for adults and $10 for seniors. The only thing I didn't like were the grounds keepers doing all the sweeping while zoo customers were walking through. This could have been started before the zoo opened at 9am. Many of the windows in the enclosures were badly in need of cleaning. Taking pictures through the glass was impossible. A school group of First graders made the first two hours crowded and loud, but they left two hours later. The boys enjoyed the playground in the center of the zoo. My daughter and I watched them from a table near the conservation building. Backpacks are allowed but no pets. There are bathrooms with water fountains and benches scattered throughout the complex. read more

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One of the best Zoos I have been to. You will always be see animals out in the mornings, especially in the cooler months. Their events are always amazing, we went for the Lego's and they were so much fun We are members and it's the best walking path for exercising. read more

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Went on a recent Saturday morning walkabout with the boyfriend in tow to the Zoo to check out these cool figures made of legos and had a great time! I can't remember the last time I've been to the Tucson zoo, definitely as a child but it's been a while! I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun we had as two childless adults lol. It was easy to weave our way in and out of the family's to see all the animals and Lego sculptures. The layout of the zoo is easy to follow with paths up and down left and right to keep the flow moving . I do wish I had brought a water bottle in to refill cuz you can do that . The carousel looked cool and you could get up close to the giraffes while we were there. All the staff seemed friendly and helpful and the park was clean over all. Lots of parking too and I noticed a new animal encounter area being built which is great to see. Over all recommend for an outing for the whole family, great little slice of zoo right in the middle of the city! read more

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After a tough couple years emotionally, I decided to join several local places around Tucson to get out a bit more. One was the Desert Museum, and the other was Reid Park Zoo. I have not been to the zoo here in years, so I did not know what to expect. Traditionally, I am not a fan of zoo's, as making sure the animals have enrichment, and natural habitats seem to not be a priority . I was VERY pleasantly surprised! I talked with a lady by the brown bear area, and asked about animals being loaned to other zoos to help maintain a population of the more endangered animals. She explained it was a complex and well planned process, but yes zoo's do exchange animals. It is clear that the zoo staff have given a LOT of thought to making sure the habitats for the animals, as well as various enrichment tools for the animals take a priority. I saw no pacing back and forth or stress reactions from any animals. My heart was happy. Today was a joy! The zoo was not too busy, and everyone walking around was smiling and friendly. Visitors actually made eye contact with me as I was smiling and saying "hi" to people!! That was so refreshing to experience. The paths are easily marked, and I made my way around the zoo in about two hours. I stayed a bit longer in several areas, and next time I will bring a book and plant myself in one of the MANY quiet areas around the zoo. The grounds are impeccably kept, and I can not wait to go back! Well done Reid Park. read more

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Fantastic Zoo!! Highly recommend!!! Immaculately clean, each animal had spacious habitats filled with enrichment for that species. Beautiful trees and flora combined with music and wildlife gives an immersive atmosphere for visitors. At $12pp it's very affordable compared to the Sonora desert museum which cost $30pp and the animals there are poorly cared for. Every staff member was exceptional and I was thoroughly impressed and enjoyed my visit. I'm giving a shout out to Marje at the elephants who was lovely to speak with about the important work the zoo is doing with the animals. Also thanks to Kim at the Flamingo Grill for her help and patience with our large and complex orders. read more

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This zoo is a cute small zoo with a wide variety of animals. The animals are well taken care of and seem comfortable in their habitats. All the zoo employees and volunteers are knowledgeable and happy to share facts. The cafe at the zoo is also not crazy over priced and they let you bring in food for a picnic too! read more

Reid Park Zoo - Baby giraffe - Zoos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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My husband and I were so impressed with this zoo! We took a day trip to Tucson to visit friends, and had some time to kill. This was a pleasant surprise to find nearby. There was some construction around the park and because they are adding an additional wing! There is PLEEENTY of parking so definitely be ready to walk depending on what time you arrive. We got in when they opened so there wasn't too many people. For us, and family of 3 - the cost of admission was literally HALF the cost of the Phoenix Zoo. That was great. All the animals were out! I think we were just happy that we didn't have any issues seeing the animals my toddler liked. It was an easy walk - just remember to bring sunscreen and a water bottle for the refill stations. Also - bathrooms were clean so don't worry about icky ness. We spent our last 30 mins at the Playground - which my son LOVED. read more

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The Tucson Zoo is always such a great experience, and the pricing is incredibly reasonable--only $12 per adult, which feels like a steal for what you get. The grounds are very clean and well maintained, and while the zoo is on the smaller side, it makes for a really enjoyable walk without feeling overwhelming. There's a nice variety of animals, from big cats to elephants, giraffes, and more. One of my favorite parts is the detailed information at each exhibit, including the meter showing where each species falls on the extinction scale--super informative and eye-opening. I come every year when I visit Tucson, and it's consistently an amazing experience. Highly recommend! read more

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Such a cool zoo! My 21 month old has been very excited about flamingos lately, so we decided to make this a stop on our little Tuscon overnight trip! We got here an hour before close and it felt like enough time to see everything without feeling overly rushed. They really have a wide variety of animals and they all look to be well taken care of. The zoo is pretty easy to navigate and well kept. Loved seeing the giraffes and elephants. Really great activity that wasn't overly expensive either at $12 for adult tickets, and my son was free as he is under age 2. Would definitely recommend for families living in or visiting Tuscon! read more

Reid Park Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Beautiful day and tons of people here to see Lego exhibition. Very creative and fun no matter what your age. Bring yourself, the family or friends. Celebrate Tucson at Reid Park Zoo. read more

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After lunch in Tucson, decided to head to this Zoo. $41 bucks to get in for 2 adults and 2 kids...not bad! A season pass I think is only $99.00 for a family of 4. That's a great deal and would be way better if we lived in Tucson instead of Surprise. This zoo is pretty small. I worked at the Santa Barbara zoo for about a year, and this zoo reminded me of that. You can walk the whole thing and see all the animals in 2 hours or less, even if you stop and admire them. They do have about 5 elephants and a couple giraffes. Big animals for a small zoo. It was pretty cool. They had some rides, a carousel, and a train (like the mall train..not on a track) that were $4.00 each per person. We didn't do either one. Like I said earlier, if you lived in Tucson and could stop by whenever, this zoo would be a lot cooler IMO. As a one time visitor, thought it was just ok and wouldn't make a special trip back. read more

Reid Park Zoo is a beautiful lil zoo, i had a ton of fun with my best friend on our trip to Tucson. We used our local libraries culture pass program to get in for free. They have a good variety of animals there and they appear to be well kept and happy in their exhibits. I'd recommend going here as a fun lil excursion, be sure to bring your camera! read more

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I'm always learning something new when I come to Reid Park Zoo in Tucson. This is my local zoo and I've been coming here for at least 10 years just this week Penelope the giraffe had a baby. In 2026 they anticipate in the opening of the East Asia exhibit within the Zoo. There's a beautiful large elephant exhibit with mom, Samba and her daughters. The zoo recently got a new sloth named Gwen the monkey house with four squirrel monkeys is always a delight. Recently there's a train for young children that runs when it's not busy in the zoo at the entrance of the zoo is a food café and I think the staff are just phenomenal. Sharing their love of animals. If you have a Tucson library card you can get a culture pass that would give you a ticket for two to the Zoo at no cost. But you have to look at the Library website to see if they're checked out or not. I'm fortunate to be able to use an agency pass to take families to the zoo and I love doing it. There's a lot of growth happening at Reid Park Zoo. Come check it out. read more

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We had an absolute blast at the Reid Park Zoo! Recently came here for the first time and was honestly blown away. The zoo is awesome and we already can't wait to go back again! Once you're inside, there is so much to do and see. The zoo itself is a really great size. The walking paths give you great views of all the animals. The exhibits are really nice, well kept, and pretty spacious. We really enjoyed all the different animals that are here. Most of them were very active when we were there, which made the experience even better! There are multiple walk-in exhibits, a huge playground area for kids, zoo keeper interactive experiences, and more. Keep an eye out for a peacock, or a bunch, roaming around too! There is a gift shop, restaurant, and plenty of snack stands throughout the zoo as well. The whole zoo is easily accessible and very clean as well. We can't wait to come back and spend another great day at Reid Park Zoo! read more

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When you can, definitely check out the Zoo lights, we got to check it out during the 1st week of December and it's worth it. The place is family friendly with tons of lights for everyone to enjoy. Get there early because parking can be tricky. I suggest wearing your Christmas outfit because it would be great against the lights when taking photos. It's night time so most of the animals are asleep, don't expect to see much of them out. We did manage to see flamingoes and a giraffe. read more

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Nice zoo, baby elephant is definitely worth it! Smaller than the Phoenix zoo but you get a closer view of the animals. Giraffes are right beside you, so that was cool. There's a play area by the elephants and another large playground too. The large playground has areas appropriate for all ages, my one and 4 year old both enjoyed it. The penguin cave and penguin slide is super fun and cool! read more

It was a beautiful day to visit the zoo on Saturday, January 24. The weather was overcast and around 60 degrees, with fresh air that felt just right. Not too hot and not too cold. We saw bears, a jaguar, a rhino, an anteater, and so many more animals. The zoo is very age friendly, with ramps that make it easy for strollers and wheelchairs to get around. If you drive an electric vehicle, the parking is closer to the walking path that leads to the entrance, which is super convenient. There's also a rentable event area on site. Overall, it was a peaceful and perfect outing. read more

Love the zoo! Best time to go is in the morning when animals are active. I was disappointed they redid the flamingo area. Used to have a water wheel feature that I loved as a kid. But that's just me being nostalgic. Loved the giraffe, the elephants, and cute ant eater. Otters were playful. Great place to walk and enjoy the landscaping. I bought a key chain trinket at gift shop. Staff were friendly and helpful. Bring back the coloring pages that they used to give the kids!! read more

We had an amazing time at the Reid Zoo. I highly recommend. The kids and I got to see all the animals up close. The only animal we couldn't find was the Capybara. Every animal we saw and many we saw time and time again. They have a young giraffe and baby elephant. Both are adorable. We did a behind the scenes tour. The ladies who gave us the tour were so amazing, very informative and the absolute best. The kids had to chance to learn about the tortoise, feed and give shell rubs. Well worth the money for the kids experiencing this moment. They love animals and were very respectful. read more

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I have been going to the Reid park zoo since I was a kid and now I get to take my own kid and we absolutely love it. They really do a great job with making sure the zoo is looking good. They are constantly doing improvements and adding new additions to the zoo. We love the new play area for the kids. Also love how they built a nice cat tower for Bella the jaguar to explore and watch us from up high. They really care about these animals and we can see it. We have so much fun every time we go. read more

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We come here often . It's a perfect way to spend an afternoon in town . Very affordable. This zoo offers plenty of events all year long ! read more

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This is one of the best zoos I have ever been to. They have an amazing elephant exhibit (my favorite animal). The African elephants are so active and there is a baby!!! This is a must! The animals are active.The staff were so friendly and professional! read more

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Great Zoo friendly staff and wonderful exhibits. The mountain views surrounding this place made the drive quite enjoyable. There is a park with s lake across the parking lot so it's makes for a great place to go after the Zoo. The Zoo itself had a few paths the exhibits are wonderful animals well taken care of. I enjoyed my time here. Lots of wonderful photo opportunities. The icky down side is I felt bad that some animals were solo especially herd animals. The bear seemed to have a very small space, giving him anxiety. The elephants were so far away it was hard to see them. The giraffes were amazing. Did I miss the petting Zoo or a giraffe feeding station? I know some zoo's have those. read more

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Now that I'm a parent, I have a hunch I'll be going to the zoo more often. My prior visit with kiddos was with my niece and nephew and pandemic rules were still in place. Fast forward to 2024 and the zoo is still tiny but mighty. Buying tickets online is super easy. Entry for Toddlers under 23 months is free. The zoo has just the right amount of attractions. I personally only like an hour because it can get crowded. Go early and you'll see plenty of animals. We got to see the flamingos, jaguar, elephants, we fed the giraffes, saw the zebra, wild dogs, rhino, moneys and lemurs. The variety of animals and engaging exhibits make it an easy place to explore. The staff's dedication to animal welfare and the overall cleanliness of the zoo contribute to a well run zoo. read more

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Until July the zoo is having $3 admission from 8a-2p. I visited today and arrived around 8:15. It was a fast experience with no long lines or big crowds. The animals were also active until about 9:30ish then it started to become HOT. Unfortunately one of the bear areas was closed off so I missed that experience but that gives me another reason to enjoy this deal again. read more

Ugh. I lived in San Diego for decades. I am used to the San Diego Zoo. When I moved to Tucson, I didn't expect the experience to be the same. Very small zoo. A few animals, but absolutely not worth the price of admission. You can see everything in less than 20 minutes. Disappointing. The Zoo in San Antonio is pretty nice if you travel to that area. read more

I hadn't been to this zoo in probably 8 years and I was blown away at the changes and how awesome they've made it. We got there when they opened so it wasn't crowded or too hot. It took about 2 hours to walk through and we spent about 30 minutes at the playground. The playground was so cool! The Halloween decorations were a real treat. Super fun family activity for all ages and very reasonably priced. read more

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Smaller zoo but it's very nice for Tucson! They are currently renovating but it's amazing for the price and size as it is! read more

Reid Park Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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This zoo is isn't too large, about an hour to 'slowly' walk through and see everything. We love this zoo and come once every 2 weeks if not more. Crowds & animals are unpredictable.... We can go the same time/day one week and be overwhelmed with people and sleeping animals, go the same time/day of the week the following week and be the only ones in there with active animals. Just go and explore! They opened a new kids play area. Very nice. Everything is always clean. The cafeteria is awesome. We love eating there & the food is pretty darn good. Staff are always nice and friendly. If visiting Tucson, go support our zoo. read more

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Love our local zoo! It's the perfect size...plenty to do but not so overwhelming that you can't see it all. They are always adding and changing the exhibits so it's even fun for those of us who visit regularly. Extra fun for kids include the carousel ($4), train ($4, I think, usually in front of the zoo, recently it was inside), and the new big playground - "treehouse", rope climbing stuff, bridge, ice house....lots of fun! The cafe has good food options at reasonable prices. read more

Reid Park Zoo - Beautiful peacock - Zoos Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We don't usually frequent zoos on our travels, but decided to check out the Reid Park Zoo for our toddler while in Tucson. We were overall really impressed with the venue, as most of the animals looked happy enough and the children's play area was lovely. What was concerning however was the Jaguar and the amount of stress he or she was obviously in. The pacing is a tell tale sign of anxiety and distress, and it has even started eating away it's own fur to self soothe from the stress it is clearly in, in this environment. I implore someone to do something to help this beautiful creature soon. read more

Although its not a large zoo, its very well laid out, a good variety of animals that I haven't seen in much larger zoos in the country. Example? Anteater. Yep, anteaters. Try not to be discouraged if you don't see all of the animals every time you go. Sometimes they are sleeping, other times it might be too hot. There are friendly, helpful, and informative employees and volunteers to help along the way. If nothing else, it provides an opportunity to walk around in a lush environment in the middle of the desert. Very reasonably priced for the entire family. read more

Reid Park Zoo is unlike any other zoo I've ever been to. It's tucked away inside a park that also offers a dog park, rose garden, baseball fields and so much more, so if you're visiting from out of town, just watch for signs for the zoo, I promise your GPS has lead you to the right place. The zoo itself is decently sized, and after spending a solid 2 hours walking around, we didn't even finish seeing all of the exhibits due to dealing with two sleepy tots. They're expanding and adding more animals this summer, so I definitely will be visiting again in the fall when we fly down to see Grandma. This zoo is absolutely adorable and so reasonably priced! Adults are just $10.50/person and children under 2 are FREE. The carousel is also only $3 per seated rider, so adults who are standing with their littles are free - this is UNHEARD of in the Chicago area, so I was pleasantly surprised!! I highly recommend getting here early so you can snag some shaded parking, otherwise you're going to bake from the AZ desert sun once you return to your car. We stopped at the little cafe for lunch, and I ordered their giant Greek salad for myself, chicken tenders and fries for my sig other, and macaroni and cheese for my daughter, along with a drink and a White Claw, and the total cost was about $40. A-MAZING. Highly recommend if you're in the area and looking for something to do that won't break the bank. Super fun. read more

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We loved this zoo! It's on the smaller side but has so much to offer. Parking is free, and adult admission is only $10.50, a real bargain. The zoo was founded in 1967 and is on 24 acres. The animal exhibits are very nice, and the zoo looked very clean. It is not a challenge to walk, unlike some zoos on hills. There is a very nice playground for younger kids that seemed very popular. There is a cafe and a merry-go-round ( wasn't operational the day we went). Bathrooms were very clean. We attended during the Christmas holidays, and the zoo was decorated in a very festive way. We would definitely return if in the Tucson area. This is a great value for a lot of family fun . read more

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